October 7, 2025

Fall News from Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish!

October 7, 2025

Daly Notes

Dear Friends,

And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. (Luke 17:15-16)

At every Mass, as we begin the preface, we enter into a wonderful dialogue. The priest says, “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.” Everyone responds, “It is right and just.” And then the priest replies: “It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, Holy Father, almighty and ever-living God.” It’s right, it’s just, it’s fitting, it’s appropriate for us to give God thanks, “always and everywhere.” It’s right, just, and fitting for us to do so on sunny days and rainy days, on days we feel like a million bucks and days we’re in the hospital, on days when we’re attending weddings and those we’re attending funerals of loved ones, on days we ace exams and on those we bomb them, on days when we win and on days we lose. It’s right and just to thank God always and everywhere. It’s our duty to thank God because God has directly willed or permitted everything that has happened to us, both what the world considers good and what the world considers bad, because even out of the bad — like leprosy in Naaman or the Samaritan. Always remember no matter what hardships we’re enduring, no matter what problems we’re facing, no matter what illnesses we’re suffering, God comes into our world, to accompany us, to strengthen us, to heal us, and to save us.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Shawn

Blessing of the Animals
We had a wonderful turnout for our annual Blessing of the Animals on the Feast of Saint Francis. God Bless our Furry Family members!

Join Us For 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 11, 2025

4:00 PM Vigil at St. James

October 12, 2025

9:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton

and livestreamed

11:00 AM at St. James

Interested in Becoming Catholic? We Can Help!

Times such as those we are living through now often prompt people to examine what we believe, how we make sense of the world and examine just what we live by, and why, and where “this all seems to be going.” Christian faith as offered in and through the Catholic Church brings 20 centuries of belief and wisdom to bear on these very questions.

Entering the Catholic Church through Baptism at Easter after exploration and instruction in the faith is the typical path for those entering the Catholic Church as adults. We are presently planning the process for those who may wish to enter the Church at Easter in the spring of 2025.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in exploring this possibility with us, we are certainly happy and eager to help. Anyone interested should contact Deacon Michael at dcnmichael@sjbrh.org (best) or by phone at 860-529-3222, x14.

Bakhita Bible Study:

Acts of the Apostles: The Church of the Holy Spirit

Many have observed that these days it often seems that we are in times akin to those of our first ancestors in the faith, believers in Christ at a time when few did. The New Testament Acts of the Apostles is a thrilling and adventurous account of that time of the earliest Church, when Christianity was being lived for the first time. It takes us to some of the great cities of the ancient world. It introduces us to all kinds of people: apostles, prophets, martyrs, philosophers, governors, kings, merchants, jailers, and sailors. It tells of dramatic spiritual experiences, missionary journeys, trials and imprisonments, powerful speeches and dramatic responses, sea voyages and shipwrecks, and the clash of ancient cultures. It invites us to see the adventure continuing in our own lives.

This October Deacon Michael will lead a six-part series on the Acts of the Apostles using Stephen Binz’s “Church of the Holy Spirits,” with readings taken from the first half of the Acts of the Apostles.

The series will be held on October 8,15, 22, 29 and November 5 and 12 at 10:00 AM at the Saint James Church Parish Center 767 Elm Street repeated at 7:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 280 Brook Street. The evening session will be available for online attendance through Google Meet. There is a $10 book fee. Please register via email at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com (BEST) or call and leave a message at 860-836-8218 if you don’t have email. (Unless specifically waived by the registrant, all registrants will be ordered a book for purchase.)

Learn More Here

Saint Josephine Bakhita

Faith Sharing Group

All are welcome to join the Saint Josephine Bakhita Faith Sharing Group. Our next meetings will be Tuesday, October 21, from 10:30-12:00 noon at Saint Elizabeth Seton Church. This group grew out of our parish Awakening retreat in November 2024. At our meetings we start with a presentation of the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 and then we engage in discussion regarding how the Holy Spirit is working in our lives. For additional information or to RSVP, please contact Michael Lonergan at 860-638-7080 at Mikelonergan53108@sbcglobal.net.

Other Fun Tidbits

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Early Access to Holiday Fair Items Starts NOW!

Knit, crochet and Sew Good Works has Holiday Fair items available again this year for early purchase, or to order. Returning items include Irish knit sweaters, table runners, quilts, cobbler aprons and more. (Some items are limited and may not be available by the fair.) Great Gift ideas! For more information or to make an appointment, contact Vivian Orsini at vorsini24@aol.com, or text 860-906-7433 and leave a message.

2026 Mass Intention Scheduling

It is time to schedule your Mass Intentions! This year will be just like 2025 with two additional ways to remember your loved ones. 1.) Lighting of a special 5-day Vigil candle and 2.) Ringing of our beautiful carillon bells at St. James with an option of a song (list provided), toll (in memory of) or peal (in honor of).

Due to Mass Intentions being so popular we need to limit each household to 2 Mass intentions for the year so that everyone in our parish community has an opportunity to reserve a mass.

MOTHER’S AND FATHER’S DAY MASS INTENTIONS:

Due to the popularity of these dates we will no longer schedule individual names but together as a parish will celebrate All of our Mothers and Fathers together as one.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

Call the office anytime NOW between 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (860-529-8655) and we will make a phone/office appointment for you on one of the following dates:

OCTOBER 7, OCTOBER 8, OCTOBER 9,

OCTOBER 14, OCTOBER 15, OR OCTOBER 16

SCHEDULED TIMES WILL BE BETWEEN

10:00 AM & 2:00 PM

On your scheduled day and time you may call the office or stop by the Rectory Office at Saint James and we will put your request in the calendar book. Limit 2 per family.

Thank you,

Carrie & Pam

Parish Administrative Assistants

Our Haitian Promise

While we cannot visit, we remember our sisters and brothers in Saintard, Haiti in prayers each Sunday. Communication is difficult, but we did learn our support has helped them build two simple classrooms. To raise funds for our twin parish, we will offer unique handmade shopping bags, mini purses and household items from PeaceCycle at the Holiday Fair on November 22, 2025. If you are interested in helping with Our Haitian Promise, please contact Barbara Wysocki at wysockb@aol.com or Marianne Hogan mandbhogan@gmail.com

Greeters Needed

Can you smile and greet people? Why not volunteer to be a greeter at the 4:00 PM Saturday vigil or the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass, both at St. James. Then pass out bulletins after Mass. You can greet as often or as little as works for you. Please email Marge at ruschau@aol.com or speak to Fr. Shawn or Deacon Michael if you would like to join this important ministry.

Give Blood

The American Red Cross has launched a Severe Blood Shortage Appeal. All eligible donors are encouraged to schedule appointments now. The next drive hosted at our Parish Center at St. James Church is scheduled for Thursday, October 9, from 1PM-6PM. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or go to www.redcrossblood.org to register to give.